Word for the Week

An Easy Yoke

Week beginning: 20th January, 2019 | By Alasdair Henderson | London

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

If you're anything like me, you are probably feeling quite weary by this point in the year. The fun and joy of Christmas seems a long time ago. It's still dark and cold outside. It's many more weeks before the next holiday. All those well-intentioned New Year resolutions have already fallen by the wayside, or even if they're still being kept the first flush of enthusiasm has worn off, and they're starting to become a real chore. And the demands and deadlines of a busy term are piling up.

It is at times like this we need to heed the invitation of Jesus to come to him for rest. Notice that the rest he offers is not simply more leisure or downtime (though that might be a good idea!), nor is it merely physical or mental (important though that is). Jesus offers us a deep rest for our souls.

Rest is a key theme in Scripture. In the beginning Creation's end-point was rest (Genesis 2:2–3) and God's work of salvation throughout history has been to bring his people into that rest (Hebrews 4:1–3). It is through Jesus that eternal rest is offered to us. And his yoke is easy because all we have to do is trust him and receive that rest by faith. What a relief in the midst of a busy, cold January, that we can have an eternity of rest secure in Christ!

Let's accept Jesus' invitation and find rest in him this week.

Prayer Points:

1. Take a moment today to rest in the knowledge that Christ loved you and died for you. Thank God for the rest for our souls we find in him.2. Pray for others you know who are weary or burdened, that they might find rest in Christ too.